PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA 13 MARCH 1989
Today is Commonwealth Day. Today, and every second Monday
in March, the members of the Commonwealth celebrate this
unique association of countries.
The Commonwealth has developed into an important
international forum, having taken the lead on political
issues such as the Rhodesia settlement and South Africa, and
standing as a testament to co-operation between developed
and developing nations on practical matters as varied as
environmental issues and telecommunications.
In recent years the Commonwealth has pursued a constructive
role in seeking to bring about an end to the apartheid
system in South Africa. Australia is proud to have been
deeply involved in developing Commonwealth initiatives in
this area, particularly the establishment of the Eminent
Persons Group and the Foreign Ministers' Committee on
southern Africa. In July this year, Australia will be
hosting the final meeting of this Committee, which will be
discussing a number of new initiatives for the Commonwealth
to consider.
The next meeting of the forty-eight Commonwealth Heads of
Government will take place in Kuala Lumpur in October. I am
looking forward to attending the meeting. It will address
directly these pressing issues, as well as others such as
the condition of the global environment and Commonwealth
co-operation against drug trafficking.